Enterprising Eigg pupils’ bag business receives award
Pupils from Eigg Primary were recently among 25 schools celebrating their extraordinary entrepreneurial achievements at the Social Enterprise in Education Awards 2013 held in Edinburgh on Friday 21 June 2013.
The pupils received their Award from John Swinney MSP for their highly successful jute bag business set up to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by using plastic bags.
The Awards, which are funded by the Scottish Government Third Sector Unit, was attended by over 200 teachers, pupils and supporters, including Mr John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth.
Mr Swinney said: “The creativity and innovation that has been demonstrated today by our young people is consistently impressive. Taking part in these awards helps them develop the skills and confidence they need to take these ideas and turn them into social enterprises, enhancing their work readiness which will help build the smarter, wealthier and fairer Scotland.
Eigg pupils, Logan and Mia went to Edinburgh to collect their school’s Social Enterprise Award from Mr Swinney in the Assembly Rooms. They said: “For our Enterprise Award we all worked together to design cloth bags which say ‘Give a hoot don’t pollute’.
“We made the bags because then people would buy them instead of using plastic ones, which kill animals like turtles (because they think plastic bags are jellyfish and eat them). Turtles can’t digest plastic and it blocks up their stomach so they can’t eat and then they starve. We will give some of the profits to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation.”
Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry congratulated Eigg Primary on their success, he said: “The Council has agreed to a long term commitment to create a Carbon Neutral Inverness and a Low Carbon Highlands; branded as a Carbon CLEVER Highlands by 2025. Eigg Primary’s project is an excellent example of how schools and communities can play their part in making the Highlands Carbon CLEVER.”
Established by the Social Enterprise Academy, which has been working with schools since 2008, the Awards recognise the team work, leadership, entrepreneurship and social impact of pupil-led businesses across Scotland which are helping change communities at home and abroad. Also fitting directly with the Scottish Government’s Curriculum for Excellence, the Awards are a great example of pupils learning by doing.